All about Internet Filtering

Nothing perhaps comes in this world, without its having any by-product. Technology’s side-effect is one immensely debated subject without losing any relevance. Internet too, often acquires a higher place for its capability of being harmful in an extensive way if utilized in such way.

However, if something potentially unsafe aspect is discovered then it becomes our responsibility to make them inaccessible to those who could be most perilously affected. Thus came into existence the concept of Internet Filtering.

Since this concept works as a protective measure the main emphasis lies in controlling various internet activities. This software application is known as content-control software or censorware or web filtering software. These are all terms for software applications designed and optimized for controlling various contents to specific users. Thus these applications decide what content will be accessible on a particular machine or network with the motive to debar persons from viewing objectionable content.

In most cases these Internet Filtering applications are being utilized by parents to prohibit children from viewing contents that are potentially harmful. Some known applications are CyberSieve v2.3, Chronager v3.2, ProxEfence v1.0 beta, 1st Clicks v1.2 and iProtectYou v8.3.

Some known activities of these applications are

• Inclusion of unlawful content with reference to the legal domain being served by a company.
• Promotion, enabling or discussing system cracking, software piracy, criminal skills or other potentially unlawful acts.
• Inclusion of sexually explicit content. This list would include pornography, erotica, and non-erotic discussions of such matters.
• Promotion, enabling or discussing promiscuity or other detailed discussions over sexually explicit topics.
• Contents containing violence or other forms of graphic or extremity.
• Promotion, enabling or discussing bigotry or hate speech.
• Promotion, enabling or discussing gambling, usages of recreational drug, alcohol or other activities often considered as vice.
• Contents those are unlikely to be related to student’s studies, an employee's job function or other assignments.
• If the contents are contrary to the benefits of the authority in question. This would include those web sites that promote organized labor or criticize a particular company or industry.